At the time of his induction, Hargis has served 46 consecutive seasons as part of the chain gang at Salem Wildcat football games. During the early years of his endurance streak, which began in 1962, Hargis also worked several out-of-town games when the visiting school was required to supply worker assistance. Hargis estimates the number or games he has missed during his tenure can be counted on one hand despite bouts with open heart surgery, prostate cancer, and removal of a kidney due to cancer.

Hargis has also catered several SCHS Hall of Fame and sport award banquets while serving as a partner at a local restaurant.

A 1953 graduate of SCHS, Hargis has been a regular attendee at Salem boys’ and girls’ basketball games since the early 1970′s with a special interest in his children and grandchildren who have played as Wildcats and Lady Wildcats.

As a high school athlete, Hargis played four years of football and three years of basketball. He spent a fourth year in the basketball program as a statistician.

Meador, a 1986 graduate of Salem Community High School, ran for a school record 1,681 yards in that 1985 season and set a school record for most career rushing yards with 3,278. Meador set two other school marks that year, which included most points scored in a season with 180 and most yards rushing in one game with 265 against Fairfield. Those 180 points ranked second in the state that season, while his rushing total was fifth best. He also ranked eighth in the state in tackles. He was also an NEC First Team pick on both sides of the ball.

As a junior and senior, Meador was a two-time Evansville Courier All-Area Team selection, a Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-South Team and a Decatur Herald All-Area Team choice. He was selected to play in the Shriners East-West All-Star game as a senior.

Meador, who also participated one season in basketball and track at SCHS, was an NEC First Team pick on offense and defense as a junior and senior. He also received Salem’s Team MVP Award in 1984 and 1985.

He continued his football career at Western Illinois University where he played the 1986-87 season. Meador was selected to the SCHS 75th anniversary team on both offense and defense in 1999.

At the time of his induction, David Meador still resides in Salem where he has coached youth baseball and football

Young did more than just participate. She also excelled. Young was an All-South selection and state meet participant in cross country, earned All-North Egypt Conference honors in volleyball and won her team’s Rebound and Defense Awards in basketball.

Young probably enjoyed her biggest success in track as a senior where she set a North Egypt Conference and school record in the 800 meter with a time of2:25. Young later lowered that school record to 2:23 when she took first place at the sectional meet.

Young was also part of two other school records. She, along with Carrie Bierman, Jennifer Bethard, and Jennifer Morton teamed up in the 1600 meter relay with a time of 4:14.2 in 1989. In 1990, she teamed up with Amy Iman, Erin Jones, and Monika Schuette for a school record in the 800 meter medley relay with a time of 1:54.7.

While it was not officially recognized as a school record, Young posted the best time at that point in history by a Salem girl in cross country in 1989 when she ran the two-mile course at the sectional meet in 12:29.

Young continued her athletic career in track and cross country at the United States Air Force Academy. Young broke the school freshmen record in the 800 meter and ranks in the school’s top ten all-time in that event. She was named the Air Force Academy Top Track Competitor for the 1992 season. Young also served as team captain.

Young, who has also attended Wichita State University, was a member of the Air Force Academy cross country team that finished second in the NCAA Division II Meet in 1990 and the 1991 team that was 15th. In addition to her athletic participation at the Air Force Academy, Young served on the school’s student government as athletic officer. She also initiated and organized the Air Force Running Club at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

Since graduation from college, Young has taught and coached at Amistad Christian Academy in Del Rio, Texas and Calvary Christian School in Wichita, Kansas where she organized and directed the One-Mile Fun Run Fundraiser. At the time of her induction, Young was coaching youth athletics in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Their 10-1 record is still the most wins in a season in school history as are their 417 points scored, their 3,514 yards rushing and 3,886 yards of total offense. They, along with the 1943 team, are the only Salem football teams to go through the regular season unbeaten, but the 1985 team is the only one to go unbeaten and untied. Coach Chuck Budde’s team achieved another school first with the program’s first playoff victory. Salem rode a potent one-two punch in its backfield to much of its success, as that squad is the only one in school history that featured two 1,000-yard rushers. Running back David Meador led that ground attack with 1,681 yards and 30 touchdowns on his way to being named the North Egypt Conference’s Most Valuable Player. Meador was joined in the backfield by Mark Byars, who rushed for 1,173 yards. Seven times Meador and Byars rushed for 100 or more years in the same game.

Salem’s season began with a 39-6 thumping of Centralia in the annual Shriners Game and its North Egypt Conference season began the following week with a 55-0 romp over Red Hill. The Wildcats followed those wins with league victories over Flora 35-0 and Fairfield 55-6 to set up a pivotal week five contest against Mt. Carmel. Mt. Carmel entered the game with an 11game winning streak over the Wildcats and had won 17 straight NEC games overall, but the Wildcats ended both of those streaks when they trumped the Golden Aces.

There was no letdown the following week, as Budde picked up his 100th career victory when Salem demolished Lawrenceville 55-0 and set up a week seven battle of unbeatens with the Olney Tigers and the NEC championship at stake. The big battle did not live up to its billing, as the Wildcats used 414 yards rushing to steamroll their way to a 35-6 victory giving Salem its first league championship since 1965.

The Wildcats survived their closest call of the regular season and completed their first unbeaten, untied regular season when it downed Benton 35-21.

Salem, which made the postseason field for just the third time in school history, picked up its first playoff victory when it demolished St. Jacob Triad 49-7.

The Wildcats ran into a buzz saw at Roxana in the second round of the playoffs. Salem was unable to contain the Shells’ five-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds left that gave the Shells a 28-24 victory.

Meador was an NEC First Team pick on both offense and defense at linebacker on his way to league MVP honors. Mike Berger was also an NEC First Team pick on both sides of the ball on the offensive and defensive line. Other NEC First Team picks included center Andy Garden, defensive lineman Chuck Bower, defensive back Tom Frazee, Byars at punter and kicker Tim Green.